Crown estates ‘will make millions from NHS, armed forces and state school rents’

King And Prince of Wales‘Private properties made rental agreements worth millions of lira’ armed forces, NHS and public schools were reported.

An investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and Sunday Times He examined the land and estates owned by the two leading royal families through the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall.

The inquest heard that last year the Duchy of Lancaster agreed the storage of a new fleet of electric ambulances belonging to Guy’s and St Thomas’. NHS Trust inside Londonat one of the estate’s warehouses over 15 years at a cost of £11.4 million.

It was also stated that the Duchy of Cornwall had charged the navy more than £1 million since 2004 to build and operate piers and mooring warships on the Cornish coastline.

The investigation found the duchy would also earn around £600,000 over the life of six different leases with local state schools.

The Duchy of Lancaster is a portfolio of land, estates and assets around the world. England And Wales Dating back to the 14th century, it is held in trust for the Sovereign, including significant urban developments, historic buildings, high-quality farmland and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

The Duchy of Cornwall is a similar portfolio worth more than £1bn that provides income for the heir to the throne.

Both properties are exempt from paying Corporation Tax, or Capital Gains Tax.

Other claims made by the Duchy of Cornwall include Dartmoor Prison Ministry of Justice and make a deal with it Department of Defense Allowing the Armed Forces to train on Dartmoor soil.

Last year the King wanted the £1 billion annual profits from the Crown Estate wind farm deal to be used for the “wider public good” rather than funding the monarchy.

But the investigation also found that Charles would still make at least £28 million from wind farms due to his feudal right to charge for cables running through lands belonging to the Duchy of Lancaster.

There are other allegations in the investigation Mirror The newspaper reported that private residential properties leased by both duchies failed to meet minimum energy efficiency requirements.

The investigation found that although it has been illegal for landlords to rent properties below an E rating since 2020, around 14% of homes rented by the Duchy of Cornwall and 13% by the Duchy of Lancaster have a performance rating of F or G. .

Charles’ annual income from the Duchy of Lancaster has risen by 5% to £27.4 million in 2023/24, according to accounts published by the estate in July.

William received more than £23.6 million in annual private income from the Duchy of Cornwall last year, according to accounts.

Income from both duchies is separate from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, which pays for the monarch’s official duties.

Duchy of Lancaster

Neither the King nor Prince Wales is legally required to pay income tax but both have offered to do so.

Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for the Duchy of Lancaster said: “The Duchy of Lancaster operates as a commercial company managing a wide range of land and property assets across England and Wales. Complies with all relevant UK legislation and regulatory standards applicable to a range of business activities.

“The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible to the Sovereign for the administration of the Duchy. However, it delegates certain functions, primarily related to asset management, to the Duchy Council.

“While His Majesty the King is closely involved in the work of the Duchy, the day-to-day management of the portfolio is the responsibility of the Council and management team.

“The Duchy has implemented a number of significant environmental improvements in recent years, resulting in a significant increase in the number of A+, A and B EPC ratings awarded to our properties as a result of refurbishment or restoration work.

“Currently over 87% of all Duchy letting properties are rated E or above. “The remainder are either awaiting planned remediation works or are exempt under UK legislation.”

A spokesman for the Duchy of Cornwall said William was committed to a “wide-ranging transformation” of the property.

In a statement they said: “The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate with a commercial imperative as well as our commitment to restoring the natural environment and creating positive social impact for our communities.

“Prince William happened Duke of Cornwall in September 2022 and has since committed to a comprehensive transformation of the Duchy.

“This includes significant investment to bring the property to net zero by the end of 2032, as well as creating targeted mental health support for our tenants and working with local partners to help tackle homelessness in Cornwall.”

Buckingham Palace He refused to comment.